Eggington v Walker - an absolute classic
Sam Eggington…ruled at British, European and world level
THE blue touchpaper has been lit. Now it’s simply a matter of standing back and waiting for the explosion.
And there will be fireworks – spectacular fireworks – when British welter champ Conah Walker and Stourbridge warrior Sam Eggington collide.
Nothing official from promoters Matchroom, but I have it on very good authority the deal is done. Eggington’s Eastside gym, in Birmingham, has declined to comment.
The pair meet on May 2 at the Civic Hall, in Walker’s home city of Wolverhampton, in one of the biggest West Midlands showdowns for decades. In recent history, only Eggington’s victory over Frankie Gavin comes close.
Walker, aged 30, is riding on the crest of a wave after thrilling victories over Harry Scarff – he was behind before demolishing the British champ with a single shot in the 11th – and, most recently, Pat McCormack.
He fights relentlessly from first bell to last. He is a throwback.
Walker doesn’t care about reputations. He wasn’t given a hope of beating Cyrus Pattinson in his breakthrough fight, yet overwhelmed the puncher in eight.
Conah Walker…real Black Country bulldog
Eggington, “Savage” by ring name, savage by nature, is cut from the same cloth. In a 45 bout career studded with thrilling battles, he has ruled at British, Commonwealth, European and world level.
He was selected as a mere name to add to ferocious punching Joe Pigford’s long list of victims, yet destroyed him.
Sam’s beaten eight previously undefeated fighters and featured in 26 scheduled 10 or 12 rounders. Those are the statistics that make a legend.
May 2 is a meeting of minds as well as muscle.
It’s a meeting 32-year-old Eggington has banged the drum for. On X – formerly twitter – he posted: “Hearing Conah Walker can’t find anyone to fight him, with all due respect I’m local and more than up for it.”
He has now netted the big one – and, I believe, at his fighting weight, light-middle.
Back in November, manager Jon Pegg told me: “Sam is the Midlands’ most underrated boxer ever.
“Sam is just different and I don’t think I’ll have anyone like him again, he’s just a natural warrior. He could slot into any (boxing) era, he’s a complete, natural fighter.”
So is Walker. That’s what makes it a sure-fire thriller.